Political change can feel very different when decisions made in Westminster directly shape where you live, whether you can work, and how long you must wait for safety.

Tamirat A. Tsega, writing from RAS Voice, shares a human appeal to Britain’s next Prime Minister – which will be Andy Burnham – and calls for people with lived experience of the asylum system to be heard:

The political turbulence that followed the UK’s local elections in May created uncertainty across the country. The Labour Party, despite its earlier landslide victory, became divided and unsettled. The situation deepened when senior cabinet members resigned, and the decision of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to stand for Parliament added further pressure on the government. When Keir Starmer stepped down from both the party leadership and the premiership on 22 June, the country entered yet another period of transition.

For people seeking asylum and refugees, these political shifts are not distant events– they have real consequences. Immigration remains one of the most sensitive and heavily debated issues in the UK. RAS Voice, a campaign group supported by Refugee Action, works to ensure that the asylum system is fair, humane, and effective. Our members include refugees and people seeking asylum who speak out through advocacy, community organising, creative expression, and lived experience. We also support community‑led housing initiatives that aim to improve the living conditions of those forced to navigate the asylum system.

As a campaign led by people directly affected, RAS Voice calls on the incoming Prime Minister – Andy Burnham – and any future leader, to treat asylum as a matter of urgency and humanity. People seeking asylum are human beings escaping persecution, conflict, and danger. They deserve safety, dignity, and the chance to rebuild their lives. One of the most pressing issues is the right to work. Thousands of people are left waiting for months or years, unable to use their skills or support themselves. Allowing people to work would reduce public spending, strengthen local economies, and restore dignity to those who want to contribute.

But the problems run deeper. The UK still lacks safe and legal routes, forcing people into dangerous journeys. Accommodation standards remain inconsistent, leaving vulnerable people– including children– in unsuitable conditions. Access to legal advice and fair appeals is shrinking, increasing the risk of wrongful decisions. And without a humane and workable plan for the removal of people refused protection, the system will continue to be overwhelmed. These are not abstract policy debates –they are urgent questions of human rights, public trust, and responsible governance.

RAS Voice urges whoever leads the government next to take these issues seriously.

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